The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-28

and Gripsack Man-smuggIed Shawis
which Entrnp the t~nwary-The Sailor
and His Cigars.
There are "A thousand and one WAYS n
which the u%nsuspccting resident or the bu.
collie visitor in New York may be relieved
of biz money without in the least suspecting
that he is being defrauded until the opera.
ton has been performed. There are innu.
merable schemes daily in operation in this
city by which a great and greedy army OF
social harpies manages 10 take in quite a CON
siderable revenue from their practice.
Perhaps the most successful Of those little
games IS that one generally describea as the
kid glove racket The method adopted IN
this game Is very simple, but Is nearly always
successful because II works 50 strongly on tho
Imagination and appeals with such peculiar
force 10 the gulibihty which reposes IN tia
mind Of the average man. The gentleman
who plies this interesting game may be met
frequently On Broadway, between -Four
teemth and Twenty-thiri streets, and along
the BOwery. He selects a pedestrian who
from his appearance may become a likely
victim. lie waiks close beside the man for "A
few PAGES when suddenly he stoops 70 thu
ground and picks up a dark object.
- ING ~ IT"
Naturally the curiosity Of the prospective
victim is aroused, and he wants 10 know
what the young man has found 'Pshaw.
its only a Kid glove, d itl' exclaims that
individual, as be makes Il motion as ii 10
throw it away. tie restraints himself with a
start and cries. There's "a ring in IL, by
gosh Just feel IT," aud the man addressed
feels, while, surely enough, there IL Is. Then
the young man draws out tho ring. and,
holding il at arms length. exclaims with a
satisfied smile, Amt she a beauty, thoughf'
and She j., If glitter and size count for any
thing To prove that the ring is a valuable
one he Offers the glove for inspection, and
this being alwayso OF the best description, nat
urally cxcites the belief that a person wear
ing such an excellent glove would naturally
wear IA valuable ring BY this time the vic
tim IS ia good shape, and tie young man Of
fers 70 sell the ring for -. IL is 100 much.
the mansays.
-Oh, well, I'm dead broke and you can
have it for s." At this price the victim
buys. and he walks away with the pleasant
impression that he carries a bargain with
him in his pocket which cost the young man
uhOsoldit Just three cents. HesOOn learns his
mistake. but seldom tells others of how neat
Is he has been scOopei, and consequently o.,
young man who works the kLl glove racket
goes along ,~erenely on the road ID wealth.
ANY person who passes along the Bowery
during the afternoon will probably notice %
man who, ia and out of season. wears ahigh
white battered hat, akind OF linen buster, "a
wooden muller around his neck and a re
mnrkably I'D uosc. lie carries with him a
portable tripod OF sand and a weather beaten
g~ripsack which he unfOlds and erects 40 a
spot near Canal street. where there is always
a great throng OF passersby. He glances
around L. see that no hated copper is in
sight. and then he is ready for gudgeOns
His game is a modification Of the three card
trick, on a still further illustration Of the de
gree to which the now YOU Sos it, now you
don't act. may be carried. lie has a hole
about two inches square cut ina the partition
dividing IN two compartments OF the grip
sack, and ia the outer partition are four or
five small pasteboard boxes, something like
those made 10 hold cigarettes.
lie picks up one Of the boxes, and, pulling
out its drawer, shows therein a five dollar
bill Then he announces % the crowd which
gathers SO easily GA the Bowery that he will
allow anybody TO draw that box vino can do
SO hy paying 81 Tor the privilege The crowd
is not DESTROYS TO Try, when Suddenly "A tough
young man wearing a pea jacket ornamented
with great mock pearl buttons, says he will
try. lie puts down a dollar, draws a box,
and lolit is the one containing the bill.